as in corrupting
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward
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Recent Examples of subverting
The inaugural season was about subverting expectations.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
In the Placer County foothills, one winery is subverting expectations and offering wine tasting experiences at a staggeringly low cost.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Buddy embraces the aesthetic of classic children’s television —complete with catchy songs and familiar tropes — before subverting it with a relentless descent into madness.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Hoja has been subverting confident authorities for at least seven centuries, while refusing to be pinned down, even as a hero.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
But artists are often great at subverting expectations, and the Renaissance Society, a beloved arts venue at the University of Chicago known for its brainy exhibitions, has for several years now invited artists to direct its annual benefit, known around town as the RenBen.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
This implied the Blackness of God, subverting cultural representations of the deity as white and possibly European.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, these public dollars went to a DeSantis political fund aimed at subverting ballot measures to legalize private use of marijuana and constitutionalize women’s ability to access reproductive health care.
—Howard L. Simon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
While fashion has a long history of subverting religious motifs, Spradlin said the colors reflect a shift to sincerity, adding that Gen Z and millennials are outpacing older cohorts in church attendance.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
In the Placer County foothills, one winery is subverting expectations and offering wine tasting experiences at a staggeringly low cost.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Buddy embraces the aesthetic of classic children’s television —complete with catchy songs and familiar tropes — before subverting it with a relentless descent into madness.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Hoja has been subverting confident authorities for at least seven centuries, while refusing to be pinned down, even as a hero.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
But artists are often great at subverting expectations, and the Renaissance Society, a beloved arts venue at the University of Chicago known for its brainy exhibitions, has for several years now invited artists to direct its annual benefit, known around town as the RenBen.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
This implied the Blackness of God, subverting cultural representations of the deity as white and possibly European.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, these public dollars went to a DeSantis political fund aimed at subverting ballot measures to legalize private use of marijuana and constitutionalize women’s ability to access reproductive health care.
—Howard L. Simon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
While fashion has a long history of subverting religious motifs, Spradlin said the colors reflect a shift to sincerity, adding that Gen Z and millennials are outpacing older cohorts in church attendance.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverting
Verb
-
An early discussion about social contracts comes down to us in Plato’s dialogue Crito in which Socrates, condemned to death for allegedly corrupting the youth, refused an offer to escape from prison.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Pima County Sheriff Office investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is facing troubles of its own, as a former sheriff has accused current leadership of ‘corrupting’ the crime scene, and a deputy has been arrested and fired on a kidnapping charge.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In contrast, the researchers engineered separate strains of Bacillus subtilis to produce two cooperative polymer-degrading enzymes that work in tandem.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
-
Experts claim the layer can begin degrading at temperatures above 158°F, potentially accelerating battery wear over time and increasing long-term safety concerns if such heat exposure becomes frequent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
That separation is now weakening.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In addition to these external influences, Dini emphasized that long-term domestic instability has left Somalia’s coastline vulnerable, weakening local institutions and lowering the risks for pirate networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
He was also found guilty of perverting the court of justice.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The brand, which was based on changing the status quo and perverting common ideas, was a success and Babenzien learned how to build a business.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Giant sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling to separate different areas for destroying things and painting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Pests and wood-destroying organisms Charlotte’s warm, humid climate makes termites a year-round threat, not just seasonal.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Founders have praised the tool for its ability to scale personalized service, such as digital styling conversations, without diluting the brand identity.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
The ruling stems from a long-running redistricting dispute over Alabama’s congressional map, which lower courts had previously found likely violated voting rights protections by diluting black voting strength.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Mohammadi’s family said her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.—
Sarah el Deeb,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
In recent years, the island’s deteriorating infrastructure has been a backdrop for violence, neglect, and death; a federal judge has deemed its conditions unconstitutional.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverting. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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